INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Brazil Health Committee Unanimously Defeats Bill Legalizing Abortion
Brasilia, Brazil (LifeNews.com) -- A health committee in the Brazilian parliament has defeated a proposed that would have legalized abortion. Today's vote took place in the Social Security and Family Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and it went better than expected for pro-life advocates opposed to the bill.

British Govt Calls Abortions in Non-Hospital Settings While Other Patients Wait
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- While patients seeking legitimate medical services languish on waiting lists for needed surgeries and doctors visits, the British government wants to lessen the wait for women seeking abortions. The debate about abortions at non-hospital settings also comes as MPs look to limit late-term abortions.

New Zealand Catholic Bishops Condemn Giving School Girls Morning After Pill
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- Catholic Bishop Peter Cullinane, the spokesman for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference, is condemning a possible decision by the Auckland District Health Board to give the morning after pill to school girls. He said that promotes wrongheaded decisions about sex and abortion.

British MP Re-Launches Effort to Scale Back Late-Term Abortions to 20 Weeks
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A leading member of the British Parliament has re-launched her effort to scale back the limit on late-term abortions from 24 weeks to 20 weeks into pregnancy. The campaign by Nadine Dorries comes as one leading pro-life group worries it will complicate efforts to defeat the pro-human cloning bill.

Jamaica Nurses Association Says Promote Better Health Care, Not Abortion
Kingston, Jamaica (LifeNews.com) -- While the Jamaican government continues to evaluate a proposal to legalize abortions, the national nurses association says the government's time and money would be better spent promoting better health care than promoting abortions.

Russia's Abortion-Caused Underpopulation Crisis Requires Foreign Workers
Moscow, Russia (LifeNews.com) -- The underpopulation crisis unlimited abortions has caused in Russia is so bad, that the nation will likely need to import large numbers of foreign workers because of labor shortages. U.S. CIA director Michael Hayden says he's concerned that will lead to racial unrest in a nation with numerous nuclear missiles.

Mexico Supreme Court Hears From Abortion Advocates Responding to Lawsuit
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- The Mexico Supreme Court recently heard from abortion advocates defending the new Mexico City law legalizing abortions in a lawsuit filed by the national government and pro-life advocates. Mexico City officials argued an unborn child is not a person and can't be granted legal rights.

Uruguay President Tabare Vazquez Vetoes Bill to Legalize Abortion
Montevideo, Uruguay (LifeNews.com) -- Uruguay President Tabarй Vбzquez is getting support from religious groups in the South American nation for his vetoing a bill that would legalize abortion. Christian churches and groups welcomed his veto of a bill to allow first-trimester abortion on virtually any grounds.

Japanese Police Want Suicide Instructions Removed From the Internet
Tokyo, Japan (LifeNews.com) -- The posting of specific instructions on the Internet about how to commit suicide is drawing a strong reaction from Japanese police. They want Internet companies to remove the information or to block access to it, and the move has the support of one leading anti-euthanasia advocate.

European Human Rights Watchdog Criticizes Ireland for Not Legalizing Abortion
Dublin, Ireland (LifeNews.com) -- The leading human rights watchdog in Europe is blasting Ireland today for not having legalized abortion. The new 58-page report on the human rights conditions in Ireland from the Council of Europe comes after a visit to the nation in November by Thomas Hammarberg.

Canada Considers Proposal to Sell Morning After Pill Without Pharmacist
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Canadian women have been able to purchase the morning after pill without a prescription for three years, but a governmental panel is considering removing more limits by putting the drug on the store shelves and make it so consulting with the pharmacist is no longer necessary.

British Abortion Practitioner Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Teenager
Norwich England (LifeNews.com) -- A British abortion practitioner who had been accused of sexually abusing a teenage patient after learning she was pregnant has been found guilty. Rashid Sandhu, who works at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, was convicted of sexually assaulting the girl after lying to her about the pregnancy.

Spain Judge Drops Charges Against Women in Illegal Late-Term Abortions
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- A Spanish judge has dropped the charges filed against more than 20 women who had illegal late-term abortions at a handful of abortion centers in Spain that were recently shut down. Police raided the centers after learning they were violating various laws.

British Pro-Life Group Outraged Govt Says Abortions Done on Pre-Teens
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life group is upset by a new report from the British government showing abortions are done on teenagers and girls as young as 12-years-old. The report came as the island nation marked 40 years of legal abortions that have taken the lives of millions since 1967.

Britain Marks 40 Years of Legalized Abortion on Sunday, No Change Likely
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Britain marks 40 years of legalized abortion on Sunday and pro-life advocates are concerned that no change is anywhere in sight. Britain's Abortion Act came into force 40 years ago, but women who have had abortions and regret their decisions join millions of unborn children as victims.

India Prime Minister Calls Sex-Selection Abortion Problem a "National Shame"
New Delhi, India (LifeNews.com) -- The Prime Minister of India said on Monday that the growing problem of sex-selection abortions is caused "national shame" to the Asian country. Just one week after the nation announced stricter penalties for the practice, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the laws need better enforcement.

United Nations Human Rights Cmte Continues Pressuring Poland on Abortion
Geneva, Switzerland (LifeNews.com) -- A United Nations human rights committee continues to pressure Poland to legalize abortion. According to a report from the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, the UN Human Rights Council pressured the Polish government during a meeting last week.

Mexico Pro-Life Advocates Light 7,000 Candles to Mark Abortion Anniversary
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates in Mexico lit more than 7,000 candles on Thursday to mark the number of children killed in abortions since the Mexico City legislature legalized abortion there last year. The candles were lit in memory of the children and the women victimized by abortion.

Russian Duma Bill Bans Abortion Ads in Media to Reduce High Figures
Moscow, Russia (LifeNews.com) -- With the number of abortions in Russia remaining so high they outline births, the Russian legislature has introduced a ban on advertisements for abortion in mainstream media outlets. The ban relegates any ads to medical publications that are not as visible in the general public

India Government Will Increase Penalties for Sex-Selection Abortions
New Delhi, India (LifeNews.com) -- The India government is increasing the penalties again for doctor who do illegal sex-selection abortions in an effort to stamp out the widespread practice. The Asian nation has worked hard to try to end the controversial abortions and infanticides targeting girls but has had only moderate success.

British Group Launches Campaign to Keep 24-Week Late-term Abortion Limit
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A leading British abortion advocacy group has started a new campaign to persuade MPs to keep the current 24-week limit on late-term abortions. Some MPs are supporting a move to amend the human embryo bill to lower the limit and prohibit more late-term abortions.

Trial Continues in Case of British Abortion Practitioner on Sexual Abuse Charges
Norfolk, England (LifeNews.com) -- The trial of a British abortion practitioner accused of sexually abusing a teenage patient continued on Tuesday. Rashid Sandhu, who works at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, supposedly was prompted by an addition to child pornography to abuse a 13-year-old girl.

Italy Sees Abortion Drop Three Percent as More Doctors Refuse to Do Them
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- Italy is seeing abortions drop as more physicians decline to do abortions and prefer to see women keep their baby and carry the pregnancy to term. A new report indicates as many as 70 percent of all doctors in Italy wont do abortions, which has helped the abortion figures drop three percent.

Canada Catholic Leader Endorses Bill C-484 to Protect Women and Children
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A leading Canadian bishop has endorsed Bill C-484, the measure in the Canadian Parliament that would offer protection and justice for women and unborn children who are brutalized in violent attacks. Bishop Jean Gagnon urges Canadian Catholics to ask MPs to support the legislation.

British Abortion Practitioner Denies He Sexually Abused Teenage Patient
Norfolk, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British physician who does abortions has been accused of sexually abusing a teenage patient after learning she was pregnant and allegedly doing an abortion on her. Rashid Sandhu, who works at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston appeared in court yesterday.

Producer of Demographic Winter Says USA Today Wrong on Population Data
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The producer of a new documentary that focuses on the underpopulation crisis around the world says a Monday editorial in USA Today misses the mark. Barry McLerran, the producer of Demographic Winter, tells LifeNews.com the USA Today commentary is "sensationalistic and just plain wrong."

Pope Benedict XVI Closes U.S. Visit With Strong Pro-Life Message on Abortion
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Pope Benedict XVI closed out his visit to the United States over the weekend with a strong pro-life message on the topic of abortion. The homily came after sharing his pro-life views with President Bush and a White House crowd and then urging Catholic Colleges not to give a platform to abortion advocates.

Leading Pro-Life Catholic Cardinal Alfonso Lopez-Trujillo Passes Away
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A Catholic Cardinal who was viewed as second only to Pope Benedict in leading the Catholic Church's pro-life efforts passed away over the weekend. Cardinal Alfonso Lopez-Trujillo, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and a respected pro-life leader, died on Saturday.

Australia Teacher Who Got Student Pregnant, Bought Abortion Gets Six Years
Parkwood, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australian teacher found guilty of getting a teenage student pregnant and then paying for her abortion will serve six years in prison. Stephen Peter Morrow, 55, could have spent as many as ten years in prison for his crime - which is a growing phenomenon.

Council of Europe Approves Resolution Asking Nations to Legalize Abortion
Strasbourg, France (LifeNews.com) -- The Council of Europe approved a resolution calling on its member nations to legalize abortion or pave the way for more abortions if they've already done so. Pro-life advocates in Ireland, Malta and Poland are concerned the measure will add to pressure to force them to overturn their pro-life laws.

Malta Bishops Strongly Support Motion Against Abortion at Council of Europe
Strasbourg, France (LifeNews.com) -- The Catholic bishops of Malta released a joint statement on Tuesday saying they strongly oppose a report at the Council of Europe calling on nations to legalize abortion. They urge Maltese representatives to the council to oppose the report to reduce the pressure on Malta to allow abortions.

Canada Unborn Victims Bill Expected to Get Second Committee Debate Soon
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A bill in the Canadian parliament that would offer protection and justice for pregnant women and their unborn babies is about ready for a second committee debate. Bill C-484, the unborn victims bill, received a 147 to 133 second reading vote in early March.

President Bush, Pro-Life Groups Welcome Pope Benedict XVI to America
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Bush and leading pro-life advocates welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to the United States on Tuesday. The president thanked the pope for standing up for pro-life principles and pro-life groups hope the Catholic Church leader will address abortion and bioethics issues during his visit.

British Pro-Life Leader: Ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair Evasive on Abortion
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life leader in England says former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is evading questions about his stance on pro-life issues following his conversion to Catholicism. John Smeaton of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children says Blair is avoiding talking about abortion and bioethics issues.

Council of Europe Debates This Week on Call for Ireland to Legalize Abortion
Brussels, Belgium (LifeNews.com) -- The Council of Europe will debate a report this week a committee produced last month calling on member states that haven't legalized abortion to do so immediately. The report targets Ireland, Andorra, Malta, and Poland and wants abortion promoted more fully in other nations.

Award-Winning Pro-Life Movie Bella Opens in Theaters Across Canada
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The award-winning pro-life movie Bella will open in theaters across Canada today after taking home tremendous per-theater numbers in the United States. The movie stars Eduardo Verastegui and Tammy Blanchard and features a compassionate look at a crisis pregnancy.

British Lawmakers Use New Premature Birth Study to Back Pro-Abortion Law
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- British lawmakers are using a new study saying there has been little change in the survival rates of premature babies over the last 10 years to oppose changes in the nation's law allowing late-term abortions. Some MPs want England to move the time limit for abortions from 24 weeks into pregnancy to 20 weeks.

Pope Benedict XVI Biographer: Nazi Genocide Shaped His Pro-Life Views
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- An author writing a new biography on Pope Benedict XVI says genocide during the Nazi regime in World War II played a key role in shaping the pro-life views of the Catholic leader. Author Brennan Pursell relates the story in his upcoming book Benedict of Bavaria.

Brazil Residents Remain Opposed to Changing Pro-Life Law on Abortion
Brasilia, Brazil (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll of Brazilians conducted in late March finds them strongly opposed to changing the nation's law that prohibits abortions. Abortion advocates there have tried to force the government to vote a second time on a bill to legalize abortions after the government backed down from a bill it sent Congress in 2005.

Economists: Abortion Didn't Decrease Crime, UK Stats Show Increase
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A trio of economists have released the results of a new study disproving the supposed link between the legalization of abortion and a reduction in crime. John Donohue and Steven Levitt first introduced the repeatedly-criticized theory in 2001 and another report shows it's untrue.

New Zealand MP Bashes Labour Govt for Blocking Right to Know Abortion Bill
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- Independent MP Gordon Copeland is accusing the Labour Party leaders of blocking a vote on a bill he's sponsored that would ensure women considering an abortion are informed about its risks and alternatives. Copeland's Right to Know bill is similar to measure in American legislatures.

Pro-Life Advocates Head to Kosovo to Keep Constitution Abortion Neutral
Pristina, Kosovo (LifeNews.com) -- A team of pro-life advocates is headed to Kosovo to ensure the new nation's constitution is abortion neutral. The province of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia earlier this year and the draft copy of the new country's constitution removed legal protections for unborn children.

South Africa Residents Strongly Oppose Abortion New Poll Shows
Pretoria, South Afrifca (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll of South Africans finds a strong majority of the residents of the nation oppose abortion and don't believe it should be used for social reasons. The results come despite the fact abortion has been legal for 12 years and that more than half a million abortions have been done in that time.

British Pro-Life Group Sues Google for Rejecting Ad on Abortion, Christianity
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British pro-life group has filed a lawsuit against Internet search giant Google for rejecting an advertisement that touted its pro-life and Christian views on abortion. The Christian Institute, which is affiliated with the Church of England, said Google rejected the "AdWords" ad because it combined abortion and religion.

Mexico Pro-Life Advocate: Eight Women May Have Died From Legal Abortions
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life advocate in Mexico says as many as eight women may have died form legal abortions in the nation's capital despite media outlets and local officials acknowledging the death of just one young woman. The nation's federal district legalized abortion law April, though it remains illegal nationwide.

Pope Benedict XVI Says Catholic Church Must Minister to Women After Abortions
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Pope Benedict XVI told participants at a weekend conference that the Catholic Church has an obligated to minister to women who have been victimized by abortion. The Pope said abortion has left millions of women physically, emotionally and spiritually wounded and Catholics must reach out to them.

Ted Turner Calls for Population Control, Wants Limit of Two Children Per Family
Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) -- Ted Turner, the eccentric pro-abortion billionaire and founder of CNN, wants more global population control. He believes the world's population is getting out of hand and that it will result in environmental problems -- and his solution is to ask people to voluntarily limit themselves to two children.

MacArthur and Ford Foundations Want Others to Promote International Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A two-year old report has come to light that encourages foundations to fund religious organizations who agree to push the abortion agenda around the world. The report, which was funded by the wealthy MacArthur and Ford Foundations, catalogues hundreds of groups likely to promote abortion.

China Will Continue One-Child Forced-Abortion Policy, Abuses Continue
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- Chinese officials are not only planning to continue the one-child family planning policy that has resulted in forced abortions and sterilizations but abusing continue under it. The latest reports indicate Chinese women who become pregnant a second time continue to face human rights abuses from family planning officials.

Australia Teacher Accused of Impregnating Student, Paying for Abortion Found Guilty
Parkwood, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australian teacher accused of getting a teenage student pregnant and then paying for her abortion has been found guilty of having sex with a minor. Stephen Peter Morrow, 55, could face 10 years in prison after a jury found him guilty on nine counts of sex with an underage girl.

European Parliament Member Launches Campaign to Stop Sex-Selection Abortion
Brussels, Belgium (LifeNews.com) -- A member of the European Parliament is launching a new campaign to expose the worldwide practice of sex-selection abortions. Conservative MEP Nirj Deva also wants to root out government funding of abortions in developing countries where the practices have skewed the male-female ratio.

Russia Survey Finds People Becoming Slightly More Pro-Life on Abortion
Moscow, Russia (LifeNews.com) -- A new survey from a Russian sociological research center finds people becoming more pro-life on abortion -- which is good news considering the prevalent attitude considering abortion a method of birth control. The poll found more Russian people and Russian women are viewing abortion through a religious and moral perspective.

Canadian Pro-Abortion Censorship Continues, University of Calgary Students Hit
Calgary, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Canadian pro-life student groups can't seem to catch a break as colleges and universities across Canada have targeted them in a relentless campaign of censorship. Groups have been told to disband, debates have been canceled and, now, students at the University of Calgary have been told to take down a pro-life display.

Australia Teacher Continues to Deny He Got Teen Pregnant, Paid for Abortion
Parkwood, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australian teacher continues to deny he impregnated a teenager and then paid for her to have an abortion to hide his actions. Stephen Peter Morrow, 55, is on trial for having sexual relations with a minor and then taking her to an abortion center after she became pregnant.

Australia Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse-Abortion Coverup Denies Charges
Parkwood, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australian man accused of impregnating a student and then paying for her to have an abortion to hide his actions is denying the charges. Stephen Peter Morrow, 55, is on trial for having illegal sexual relations with a minor girl and then using an abortion to attempt to cover up his actions after he got her pregnant.

Pro-Abortion Law Firm Wants United Nations Cmte to Make Countries Back Abortion
New York, NY -- The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) just released a new and updated version of their “signature” document that uses the non-binding recommendations of UN committees to argue that sovereign nations must legalize abortion as part of their international legal obligations.

British Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Forced Abortion Files Appeal
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British businessman from Hendon a filed an appeal of his sentence of three year in prison for forcing his pregnant wife to have an abortion. Gil Magira, 35, had pleaded guilty to purchasing the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug from the Internet and putting it in his partner's sandwich to cause her to have an abortion.

Australia School Teacher on Trial for Taking Sexually Abused Teen for Abortion
Parkwdood, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- The United States has seen an epidemic of abortion used by criminals involved in sexual abuse to cover up their actions from authorities and now the concerning phenomenon has hit Australia. Stephen Peter Morrow, 55, is on trial for allegedly impregnating a student and then paying for her to have an abortion to hide his actions.

New Zealand Sees Abortions Decline Three Percent, Asian Abortions Still High
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- Abortions in New Zealand have declined more than three percent when comparing the latest figures from 2006 with those from 2003. However, officials there are concerned about the high number of teen abortions, especially on Asian teenagers who have relocated to the island nation.

Britons Favor Limits on Late-Term Abortion by Plurality New Survey Shows
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A plurality of Britons favor limits on late-term abortions according to a new poll taken in advance of a potential vote there. The British parliament will likely vote in the next two months on an amendment to a human cloning bill that would reduce the limit on late-term abortions from 24 weeks into pregnancy to 20 weeks.

Malta Government Won't Legalize Abortion Despite Council of Europe Pressure
Valleta, Malta (LifeNews.com) -- The government of Malta has no plans to legalize abortions despite pressure from the Council of Europe for it, Poland and Ireland to ditch their pro-life laws protecting unborn children. The Maltese government may approve sending a representative to the group to explain its position.

Bulgaria Abortions Almost Equal Births, Highest Teen Abortion Rate in Europe
Sophia, Bulgaria (LifeNews.com) -- Bulgaria has had one of the world's highest abortion rates in recent years and new statistics there show there are about 50,000 abortions annually in the eastern European nation. The Association for Obstetrics and Gynecology indicated women in Bulgarian continue to rely on abortion as a method of contraception.

Canada Pro-Abortion Group Slams Poll Showing Support for Bill to Protect Women
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A leading abortion advocate is attacking the results of a new poll showing 70 percent of Canadians support an unborn victims bill pending the nation's parliament. The poll found Canadians across the nation don't think the bill will affect abortion though one activist continues to claim otherwise.

British Maternity Units Turning Away Expectant Mothers, Could Prompt Abortions
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- In a shocking new report, half of all hospitals in England under the nation's health care service turned away expectant mothers because they were too full. The news could prompt some women who fear a lack of proper medical care to have abortions and one pro-life watchdog says he's concerned about the implications for the U.S.

China Court Hears of Man Who Killed Pregnant Wife After Abortion Refusal
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- A Chinese man appeared before a court on trial for killing his pregnant wife after stabbing her more than 30 times following her refusal to have an abortion. Chen Min had accused his wife of having an affair and having someone else's baby, but he has admitted he knew he was the father of the child.

British Figures Show 1,300 Women Have Had Five Abortions, Hundreds Have More
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- As members of Parliament prepare to debate some limits on late-term abortions and abortions on disabled babies, new figures show 1,300 women have had at five abortions or more. The repeat abortion stats worry pro-life groups that some women are viewing abortion as a method of birth control.

British Doctors Agency Tells Physicians to Reveal Pro-Life Abortion Stance
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A governmental agency in England that regulates physicians has set forth new guidelines saying doctors have to divorce their personal religious or moral beliefs from their medical practice. For pro-life physicians it means that must divulge their view to women who are considering an abortion.

British Psychiatrist Group Warns Abortions Can Cause Mental Health Problems
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The national organization in England for psychiatrists says women should be told that abortions can cause mental health problems. The organization says abortion businesses should tell women that abortions present numerous mental health risks such as depression.

Italy Catholic Cardinal Says Pro-Life Values Should Guide Political Voting
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- A top Italian Catholic cardinal says pro-life values should guide the decisions Catholic voters make in the voting booth when comparing candidates. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the head of the Italian bishops' conference, said pro-life values are non-negotiable and they should take precedence over other political issues.

Seventy Percent of Canadians Back Unborn Victims Bill, Deny Abortion Distortion
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll finds 70 percent of Canadians support an unborn victims bill pending the nation's parliament. They strongly support the concept the bill puts forward that criminals should be held accountable for killing and injuring both mother and child when they violently attack a pregnant woman.

Spain Abortion Centers Closed for Illegal Abortions Did Them on 13-Year-Olds
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- The main abortion practitioner behind a chain of abortion centers in Spain that were closed down by government officials for allegedly doing illegal late-term abortions apparently did abortions on girls as young as 13-years-old. Carlos Morin also allegedly did abortions on women as late as 29 weeks into pregnancy.

Catholic Church Tells Philippines Bishop to Reject Pro-Abortion Donations
Manilla, Philippines (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life Catholic Church official has told a top bishop in the Philippines to reject donations to the church that come from companies or groups that also support abortion. Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said accepting such donations would be "morally evil."

Canada Bill to Protect Pregnant Women, Unborn Still Under Pro-Abortion Attack
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A Canadian bill that would offer protection and justice for pregnant women and their unborn children who are victims of violent attacks may have been approved by the House of Commons last week. However, pro-abortion lawmakers say they plan to kill Bill C-484 when it heads to committee for further consideration.

Canada's York University Expected to Reschedule Abortion Debate After Censorship
Toronto, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- York University is expected to reschedule a debate over abortion after student government leaders engaged in alleged censorship by canceling the first forum. The second attempt at holding the debate appears to have been made possible by the college's administration.

Catholic Church Says Abortion, Cloning, Embryo Destruction are Sinful Practices
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- The Catholic Church has added abortion and destructive bioethics practices like embryonic stem cell research and human cloning pose to the traditional list of seven deadly sins. Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti spoke with a Catholic newspaper over the weekend about the additions.

Britain Sets Record for Late-Term Abortions, Abortion Advocate Says That’s Okay
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- New reports from the British government show the European nation has set a new record for the number of late-term abortions, or those abortions done after the baby is 20 weeks or more along. The nearly 3,000 such abortions represented a 44 percent increase over the number of late-term abortions 10 years ago.

British Woman Having One of the First Legal Abortions Regrets It 40 Years Later
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British woman who had one of the first legal abortions after England legalized them in 1967 says she regrets her abortion even 40 years later. Jo Woodgate thought she would quickly forget the abortion procedure and be glad about ending her pregnancy, but she still mourns for the loss of the baby she should have had.

Malta Pro-Life Group Says Labor's Sant Waffling on Abortion Amendment
Valletta, Malta (LifeNews.com) -- The leading pro-life group in Malta says it is concerned about a leading Labor Party representative who had assured the organization that plans for a constitutional amendment to ban abortions were underway. However, the official said in a press conference Tuesday that those plans hadn't begun.

Canada's Bill to Protect Pregnant Women, Unborn Children Moves Ahead
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A bill that would put Canada in league with the United States and offer legal protection and justice to pregnant women and their unborn children has advanced in the nation's parliament. Bill C-484, sponsored by Conservative MP Ken Epp, would allow prosecutors to bring two charges when mother and baby are killed or injured.

India Will Pay Poor Women To Have Girls, Avoid Sex-Selection Abortions
New Delhi, India (LifeNews.com) -- To combat the ever-worsening gender ratio in India, government officials are unveiling a new plan to pay poor women and their families to avoid sex-selection abortions and infanticides. Authorities hope the payments will stop the estimated 500,000 deaths of girl babies from both practices.

Pro-Life Group Worried United Nations Closing Session on Abortion Document
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life organization that lobbies at the United Nations is concerned the international agency is closing off non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from participating in discussions on a new document that could affect abortion.

York University in Canada Cancels Abortion Debate, Pro-Life Bias Continues
Toronto, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- In another example of the bias that is permeating Canadian colleges and universities against pro-life students, York University canceled a scheduled debate on abortion just hours before its scheduled start. Student leaders there say debating the legality of abortion is akin go debating whether domestic violence is appropriate.

China Newspaper: Official Wrong on Reversing Forced Abortion One-Child Policy
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- A Chinese newspaper says a family planning official spoke out of turn last week when he said the Asian nation was considering slowly reversing its one-child population control policy that has resulted in forced abortions and sterilizations. The Beijing News called the official's comments "inconsistent with the facts."

British Man Gets Three Years in Prison for Forcing Wife to Have Abortion
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British businessman from Hendon is headed to prison for three years for forcing his pregnant wife to have an abortion. Gil Magira, 35, had pleaded guilty to purchasing drugs from the Internet and putting them in his partner's sandwich to cause her to have an abortion.

Canada Catholic Bishop Will Deny Politicians Communion if They Support Abortion
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A top Catholic official in Canada is encouraging elected officials of the Catholic faith to turn from their pro-abortion views if they want to continue receiving communion. Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast says he will first speak with politicians who support abortion and encourage them to convert to the pro-life perspective.

British MP Thanks Conservative David Cameron on Limiting Late-Term Abortions
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A member of the British Parliament who has taken the lead in trying to place more limits on late-term abortions says she appreciates the support for her efforts from Conservative leader David Cameron. The leader of the Conservative Party in England called for an amendment to a bioethics bill to limit late-term abortions.

China Officials Examine Incrementally Dropping Forced Abortion One-Child Policy
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- Chinese officials are examining the possibility of incrementally changing the one-child family planning policy that has resulted in extensive human rights abuses such as forced abortions and sterilizations. In the 1970s, the Asian nation institute the policy, which allows just one child per family in metropolitan areas and two in rural parts.

Israel Parliament Debates Bill to Ban Abortions at 22 Weeks of Pregnancy
Jerusalem, Israel (LifeNews.com) -- The Israel Parliament is debating a bill that would ban late-term abortions starting at 22 weeks of pregnancy and beyond. The ban is the first attempt to limit abortions after the chief rabbinic council in Israel released a new opinion about abortion confirming it constitutes a “grave sin."

Sweden Court Sentences Man to Prison for Forcing Girlfriend to Have Abortion
Stockholm, Sweden (LifeNews.com) -- An appeals court in Sweden has sentenced a man there to 18 months in prison for forcing his girlfriend to have an abortion by spiking her drink. The 27-year-old man mixed abortion pills in the woman's food in an attempt to make her have a miscarriage of his child.

China Attorney Who Helped Forced Abortion Opponent Detained and Beaten
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- An attorney who helped forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng has been detailed by officials and was beaten, a human rights group says. Human Rights in China has learned that Shanghai attorney Zheng Enchong was arrested again on February 20 after several days of harassment by police and unidentified thugs.

British Conservative Party Leader Wants Vote to Limit Late-Term Abortions
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The leader of the Conservative Party in England has called for a vote on limiting late-term abortions through an amendment to the controversial bill parliament is considering. MPs have called for reigning in a law that essentially allows unlimited abortions throughout pregnancy when the baby is disabled with as little as a cleft palate or club foot.

Human Rights Group Calls for Releasing Pro-Life Cuban Doctor Oscar Biscet
Havana Cuba (LifeNews.com) -- With longtime Cuban dictator Fidel Castro stepping down, a human rights group is calling on his brother Raul, who will take his pace as the head of the Communist country, to release Oscar Biscet. The pro-life doctor is currently jailed in Cuba for protesting abortions.

Fiji Police Rule Out Abortion as Cause of Woman's Recent Death
Suva, Fiji (LifeNews.com) -- Police in Fiji have now ruled out an abortion as the cause of a woman's recent death following the release of an autopsy form medical examiners. Had the woman died from the abortion as investigators initially thought, she would have been the second victim of a botched legal abortion in five years.

British Catholic Cardinal Dismisses Hospital Board Over Abortion Referrals
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A leading Catholic Church official in England has dismissed the board of directors of a hospital after they refused to bring the health center's policies in line with the Church on abortion. Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor booted the entire board of St John and St Elizabeth Hospital over abortion referrals.

South Korea Soccer Player Apologizes in Miss Korea Pageant Forced Abortion Case
Seoul, South Korea (LifeNews.com) -- A South Korean soccer player has issued a public apology for forcing his girlfriend, a Miss Korea beauty pageant contestant, to have an abortion. Hwang Jae-won responded to rumors circulating on the Internet that he had pressured Kim Ju-yeon to have an abortion she otherwise didn't want.

Mexico City Teen Dies From Legal Abortion as Supreme Court Weighs New Law
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- As the Mexico Supreme Court considers a legal challenge to a new law in Mexico City that allows abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy, new reports indicate a teenager has died from an abortion. A 15-year-old girl died after an abortion practitioner failed to properly treat her.

Fiji Police Investigate Second Death of Woman From Botched Legal Abortion
Suva, Fiji (LifeNews.com) -- Police in Fiji are investigating the second death of a woman from a botched legal abortion there after the former Fiji Medical Association president was found guilty of killing a woman in a March 2003 abortion. The new case involves a 28-year-old Lautoka housewife who appeared to die following complications from the abortion.

British Woman Committed Suicide After Abortion of Twins Over Extreme Grief
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British court held a hearing yesterday on a case of a young 30-year-old woman who committed suicide after the abortion of her twin babies. Emma Beck left a suicide note and said she faced such an intense period of grief afterwards and regret over the deaths of the babies that she killed herself "to be with them."

Pro-Life Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon Starts as New Vatican Ambassador
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Former Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon began her new job yesterday as the ambassador to the Holy See from the United States. The Senate approved her nomination in December and now Glendon will partner with the Catholic Church in advancing the pro-life perspective on an international scale.

British Catholic Church Spokesman Sues Newspaper Over False Abortion Story
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A former spokesman for the Catholic Church in England is suing a newspaper there over a story that allegedly falsely accuses him of pressuring a girlfriend into having an abortion. The story accused Austen Ivereigh of being a hypocrite by taking a pro-life position publicly but not privately.

New Zealand Abortions Wrongly Classified as Mentally Necessary, Prof Challenges
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- The New Zealand government has released new figures for abortions there showing 17,934 abortions in 2006. The Abortion Supervisory Committee Report also determined that 98.9% of the abortions were approved on mental health grounds, but a leading abortion researcher challenges that contention.

Pro-Abortion Magazine “The Nation” Paints Worldwide Pro-Life Group as Racist
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading magazine with a pro-abortion slant has painted an international pro-life group as racist because it is concerned about the severe underpopulation problems plaguing, Europe, Russia, Japan and other parts of the world. The magazine will release an article on the World Congress of Families in its March 3 issue.

Pro-Abortion Groups in Canada Continue Misleading on Unborn Victims Bill
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-abortion groups in Canada are continuing to mislead lawmakers in the Canadian Parliament about a bill MP Ken Epps has sponsored that would protect pregnant women. The measure gives pregnant moms and their unborn children justice by allowing prosecutors to charge criminals for killing or injuring both mother and child.

United Nations Committee Pushes Nations to Promote Abortion in CEDAW Mtg
by Samantha Singson
The Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) concluded its latest round of meetings, pressing all eight delegations under review on their abortion policies even though the treaty never mentions abortion.

Pro-Life Group Takes Award-Winning Movie Bella to Ireland to Combat Abortion
Dublin, Ireland (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life organization that reaches out to youth and young adults is taking the award-winning movie Bella to Ireland to share with pro-life advocates there and assist them in campaigning against abortion. The movie has won rave reviews for its depiction of a struggle with a crisis pregnancy situation.

British Woman Upset by Abortion Offer After Hospital's Miscarriage Diagnosis
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British woman is upset after a hospital offered her drugs to cause an abortion after she learned it wrongly informed her that he baby would eventually die in a miscarriage. The woman says officials compounded her grief about the supposed death of her unborn child with its offer to kill her baby, who is die in June.

Italy's Presidential Election Sees Abortion Play Role With Berlusconi Opposition
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- Abortion is playing a prominent role in the upcoming April presidential elections in Italy as front-runner Silvio Berlusconi has endorsed a call for an international moratorium on abortions. Berlusconi told the weekly Tempi magazine that the UN should follow a death penalty moratorium with one on abortion.

Pro-Life Groups to Release Documentary on World's Underpopulation Crisis
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A slate of pro-life groups are set to mark the release of a new documentary that focuses on the underpopulation crisis around the world. European nations are seeing births at below replacement rate, abortion has decimated the population of Russia and nations like Japan may be unable to support an aging population.

Jamaica Government Continues Examining Possibility of Legalizing Abortion
Kingston, Jamaica (LifeNews.com) -- The Jamaican government continues to evaluate a proposal to legalize abortions there for any reason up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. A 17-member Abortion Policy Review Advisory Group composed of doctors and ministers says the island nation should legalize abortion because women are injured by illegal abortions annually.

Pro-Life Groups, Lawmakers Renew Call for Abortion-Neutral AIDS Legislation
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Several pro-life groups joined with more than a dozen pro-life members of Congress for a news conference on Thursday to renew their call for amendments to the foreign HIV/AIDS assistance bill. They want changes made to eliminate funding for pro-abortion groups and to restore abstinence education.

South Africa Parliament Promotes Abortions, Allows Nurses to Do Them
Pretoria, South Africa (LifeNews.com) -- The parliament in South Africa has approved a bill that would tear down some of the very low limits on legal abortions and allow nurses and midwives to do them. The measure does away with any requirements that abortions be done in hospitals, paving the way for freestanding abortion businesses.

Canada Family Wants Unborn Victims Law for Justice for Pregnant Mom
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The family of a pregnant Canadian teenager who was murdered along with her unborn child is calling on MPs in the Canadian Parliament to approve a bill that would allow prosecutors to hold criminals accountable for both deaths. Manjit Panghali is one of several pregnant women in Canada who had been killed in recent years.

Twin Unborn Babies Save Mother's Life, Loosen Tumor After Abortion Refused
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Doctors sometimes suggest to women who become pregnant while dealing with cancer that they should have an abortion to save their own life. However, in the case of a British woman, her twin unborn children saved her life when the knocked loose a tumor that had been developing on her cervix.

British Report Shows Dozens of Babies Left to Die After Live Birth Abortions
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A report from Britain shows that 66 babies were born alive on one year alone after abortions done with public money under the nation's health care system. The babies were routinely left to die after their premature birth and some survived for as long as 10 hours afterwards.

British Woman Dies After Botched Late-Term Abortion Her Family Forced
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A woman of Pakistani heritage living in England has died after her family forced her to have an abortion when they learned she had secretly married a British man. Sobia Wali, 22, had married Usman Gulzar in a secret ceremony in Scotland in December and then her family found out about the pregnancy and the wedding.

Russian Pro-Life Advocates Protest Abortion With Cross Display
Moscow, Russia (LifeNews.com) -- With abortion used mostly as a form of birth control in this massive nation, Russian people aren't known for their pro-life outreach. However, a group of pro-Kremlin youth set up a cross display on Monday to remind citizens there of the human lives destroyed via abortion

Dutch Woman Will be Prosecuted for Illegal Late-Term Abortion in Spain
Amsterdam, Netherlands (LifeNews.com) -- A Dutch woman will be prosecuted on charges that she had an illegal abortion at one of the several Spain abortion centers that have been shut down for violating Spain's late-term abortion laws. The Netherlands' law allows abortions up to 24 weeks into pregnancy in rare circumstances and the woman was past that point.

Columnist Wants Abortion Practitioner Morgentaler to Get Order of Canada
Toronto, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- An editorial columnist for the Toronto Globe and Mail wants Canada's most infamous abortion practitioner Henry Morgentaler to get the Order of Canada. That's an award that is Canada's highest civilian honor that normally applauds the work of community volunteers from astronauts to scholars.

British Abortion Business Admits Birth Control Doesn't Prevent Pregnancy
Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- A British-based abortion business that operates abortion centers internationally admitted on Tuesday that women in Australia are getting pregnant and having abortions despite the use of birth control. Abortion advocates have long claimed that the advocating contraception is better than abortion limits in reducing abortion figures.

Canada Pro-Abortion Group's Demise Forces Abortion Phone Line to Close
Charlottetown, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- There's good news in Canada just one day after the nation marked 20 years of virtually unlimited abortion. As a result of the demise of the Canadian Abortion Rights Action League, a 1-800 number giving women living on Prince Edward Island information about how to get abortions has closed down.

Canada Marks 20 Years of Legalized Abortion, Pro-Life Groups Hope for Change
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Canada followed the United States by 15 years in allowing abortions to be done across the nation without any major restrictions. In January 1988, Canada's Supreme Court ruled Canada's abortion law was unconstitutional and allowed them to be done with even fewer limits than in the U.S.

Inside the Vatican Magazine Names Pro-Life Dr. Alveda King Top Ten of 2007
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Inside the Vatican magazine has named pro-life advocate Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a Priests for Life spokeswoman, one if its Top Ten People of 2007. King has become a prominent figure within the pro-life and post-abortion communities.

Jamaica Parliament Creates Group to Examine Legalizing Abortion There
Kingston, Jamaica (LifeNews.com) -- The Jamaica House of Representatives has signed off on the creation of a 10-member group to examine the possibility of legalizing abortion there. The move comes after a government report indicated the Caribbean nation should overturn its laws prohibiting abortions.

Abortion Boat Operator Complains Lack of RU 486 Drug in Rural Canada
Toronto, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The operator of the infamous abortion boat that has sailed outside European nations that prohibit abortions is in Canada for the twentieth anniversary of legalized abortion there. Despite the face that it has killed a Canadian woman and 12 others worldwide, Rebecca Gomperts complains the abortion drug RU isn't widely available in rural areas.

Canada Pro-Life Group Sees Fredericton Officials Discriminate on Abortion Ads
Fredericton, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life New Brunswick group is up in arms after Fredericton officials prohibited it from placing advertisements against abortion inside bus shelters. New Brunswick Right to Life says the city is discriminating against it by allowing other advertisers to appear on the shelters but not their ads asking people to rethink their abortion views.

Australian Women Taking Dangerous Abortion Drug in Large Numbers
Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australian professor has released a new report claiming the pharmaceutical companies have failed women there because no corporation is interested in manufacturing and distributing the abortion drug there. As a result, Professor Nicholas Fisk, from the University of Queensland, says women are misusing parts of the abortion drug.

Australia Catholic Bishop Blasts Taxing Families With Additional Children
Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- A leading Catholic bishop in Australia is blasting an idea that has taken hold there that families who have more than two children should face additional taxes. A university professor originally floated the idea in December by suggesting couples should pay a $5,000 tax for supposedly hurting the environment.

South Africa Officials Arrest Employees at Shoddy Illegal Abortion Center
Johannesburg, South Africa (LifeNews.com) -- Abortions are legal in South Africa, but officials there arrested eleven people on Friday who were involved in operating an illegal abortion center that subjected women to disgusting an unsanitary conditions. The centers conditions were so deplorable that local officials were amazed.

American Pro-Life Leaders Help Jewish Officials in Israel Oppose Abortion
Jerusalem, Israel (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-life members of Congress are in Israel this week to help Jewish leaders there combat the growing scourge of abortion in their nation. Their visit comes just weeks after the chief rabbinic council in Israel released a new opinion about abortion confirming it constitutes a “grave sin."

Mexico Supreme Court Closer to Decision on Mexico City Abortion Law
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- The Mexico Supreme Court is closer to rendering a decision on a new law the nation's capitol approved last year to legalize abortions up to 13 weeks into pregnancy. The high court began its latest term on January 2 and the case against the abortion law is slated as the first decision it will hand down.

Spain Abortion Centers Launch Five Day Strike to Protest Raids, Laws
Madrid, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- Abortion centers across Spain launched a five-day strike on Tuesday to protest the raids at a handful of centers that apparently were doing illegal late-term abortions. More than 50 abortion centers indicated they will not do abortions during the strike, in a protest that likely won't draw objections from pro-life advocates.

Chinese Couple Will Get Court Hearing in Brutal Forced Abortion Case
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- A Chinese couple who have filed a lawsuit against family planning officials over a forced abortion that has left the couple unable to have children may get a court hearing. The suit involves a woman who, in the ninth month of her pregnancy, was forced to have an abortion because the couple violate the nation's laws.

Australia's New Government Pressed to Fund International Abortions
Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- Lawmakers are hoping the new federal government in Australia will be more receptive to their demand to fund abortions around the world. While the Howard government turned back efforts to fund groups that promote or perform abortions overseas, the new Rudd government has been pressed to move ahead.

Canada's Government Expected to Vote on Unborn Victims Bill in March
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The Canadian government is expected to vote on an unborn victims bill in March that would offer protection and justice for women and their unborn children who are victims of violence. The bill holds criminals accountable for killing or injuring both mother and child in an assault against both.

Australia Media Blast Abortion Hotline, Say It Hasn't Helped Enough Women
Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- The media in Australia are blasting an abortion and pregnancy hotline the government there established and it claims it is not reaching enough women to justify the cost. The previous government established the hotline and the new Labor government says it supports keeping it in placed and emphasized it was too early to evaluate it.

Italy MP Files Bill to Limit Late-Term Abortions After Baby Survives One
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- A member of the Italian parliament has filed a bill that would halt late-term abortions there following a case of a baby boy who became the victim of an abortion after doctors failed a disability test on him.

China Businessman Faces Highest Fine Ever Under Forced Abortion Policy
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- Since the Chinese government instituted its family planning policy prohibiting more than one child per couple, it is believed that no one has paid a higher fine for violating it than Li Shaoqing. Li, the head of a cement mixing company, was ordered to fork over $100,000 US because he fathered a second child in 2006.

French Surrogate Mom Refuses Abortion of Triplet Baby Even if Life at Risk
Paris, France (LifeNews.com) -- A French woman who is a serial surrogate mother and now pregnant with triplets refuses to have an abortion even though doctors say there is a small risk the pregnancy could threaten her life. Carole Horlock, 41, says physicians told her that the pregnancy could pose issues because of her age.

Pro-Life Group Wants Senate to Give Bush Population Official Another Term
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life organization says it wants the Senate to give a pro-life Bush administration official who deals with population issues another term. Concerned Women for America says Ellen Sauerbrey should be voted a permanent appointment as assistant secretary for population, refugees and migration.

Islamic Edict on Rape and Abortion Draws Criticism, Egypt Considers Bill
Cairo, Egypt (LifeNews.com) -- An Islamic religious group has sparked considerable controversy in the Middle East with a recent edict saying women who are victims of rape should be able to have abortions. Muslims generally oppose abortion and many Islamic nations prohibit abortions in all or most circumstances.

Leading Pro-Life Bush Administration Official Sees Temporary Post Expire
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life Bush administration official who handles population issues for the president has seen her temporary post expire. Ellen Sauerbrey received a recess appointment as the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration but it has expired and she's likely not going to get it back.

British Physicians Oppose Government Plan for Abortions at Doctors' Offices
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A new survey finds 86 percent of British physicians oppose a plan by the government to let doctors do abortions at private offices instead of following current regulations requiring them at hospitals. Such hospital standards are typically in place to provider emergency medical care to women or infants injured by botched abortions.

Assassinated Pakistan Leader Benazir Bhutto Was Strong Abortion Opponent
Islamabad, Pakistan (LifeNews.com) -- The world mourned the loss of assassinated Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday, but her death was more than a setback for those hoping for democracy in this war-torn nation. Bhutto was a member of an international pro-life women's movement that understood abortion causes medical, mental health and other problems for women.

Israel’s Chief Jewish Council Affirms Abortions “Grave Sin,” Delaying Messiah
Jerusalem, Israel (LifeNews.com) -- The chief rabbinic council in Israel released a new opinion about abortion over the weekend confirming that abortions constitute a “grave sin” and saying they are delaying the coming of the Messiah. Their determination provides hopes to pro-life Jews in the United States and elsewhere who battle abortion.

Former British Prime Minister Criticized on Catholic Conversion and Abortion
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Former British political leader Tony Blair converted to Catholicism on Friday as Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, received him in a ceremony at his residence chapel. But he is drawing crticism for still supporting abortion.

India's Legal Abortions Kill 80,000 Women Annually, Local Expert Says
New Delhi, India (LifeNews.com) -- A medical expert in India says an estimated 80,000 women die from legal abortions there on an annual basis. The figures provide further evidence that abortion does not became safer if legalized, as unlicensed and unregulated abortion practitioners pose as much of a threat to women's health as illegal abortions.

Another Spain Abortion Center Shut Down, Falsified Late-Term Records
Madrid, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- Another abortion center in Spain has been shut down over illegal late-term abortions, this time in the nation's capital city. The closing of the Madrid abortion center Mayrit follows the closing of four abortion facilities in Barcelona and the arrest of 13 people from them for doing illegal late-term abortion

Canada Bill Protecting Pregnant Women, Unborn Children Gets First Debate
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A measure that would offer protection and justice to pregnant women and their unborn children who are victims of violence received its first debate last week in the Canadian House of Commons. MP Ken Epp is the main sponsor of the Unborn Victims of Crime Act (C-484).

Italy May Approve Dangerous RU 486 Abortion Drug in a Few Months
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- Italian officials may approve the use of the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug in the next few months, according to a newspaper there. The drug, also known as mifepristone, has been responsible for the deaths of 13 women worldwide and has injured more than 1,100 alone in the United States.

Spain Officials Arrest Seven More People in Illegal Late-Term Abortion Sting
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- Officials in Spain have arrested seven more people in connection with a sting operation that has closed four abortion facilities and netted six people already. The case involves abortion businesses that were allegedly doing illegal late-term abortions that were promoted as far away as Britain and the Netherlands.

Holland Residents Back Legal Abortions, Oppose Them Late in Pregnancy
Amsterdam, Netherlands (LifeNews.com) -- Residents of the Netherlands have long supported legalized abortion, but a new poll finds they strongly oppose them in the latter stages of pregnancy. The poll is important given new reports showing Dutch doctors joined their British counterparts in referring women to a set of Spain abortion centers that were recently closed for doing illegal late-term abortions.

Malta Opposition Party Key to Determining Fate of Abortion Amendment
Valletta, Malta (LifeNews.com) -- The opposition Labour Party in Malta appears to be the key in determining whether or not an abortion amendment will move ahead in the nation's parliament. The Gift of Life Foundation, the leading pro-life group on the island nation, has asked MPs to sponsor legislation that would enshrine legal protection for unborn children in Malta’s constitution.

British Lawmakers Will Get Free Vote on Abortion-Hybird Cloning Vote
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- British lawmakers will get a free vote on an upcoming bill that could be used to promote abortions and will allow scientists to make human-animal hybrids or chimeras for research. They were worried they would be held to the government's position on its legislation in favor of the legislation.

Spain Facility Doing Illegal Late-Term Abortions Got Dutch Referrals Too
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- A set of abortion business in Spain, that have been shut down for allegedly doing illegal late-term abortions as late as eight months into the pregnancy, received referrals from British doctors. New reports indicate they apparently received referrals from physicians in the Netherlands as well.

India's Gender Ratio Getting Worse as Sex-Selection Abortions Continue
New Delhi, India (LifeNews.com) -- The gender ratio in India is growing worse as sex-selection abortions and infanticides continue in the Asian nation, a new report reveals. Officials there have been working overtime to try to halt the practices, but the illegal use of ultrasounds continues and is allowing parents to kill unwanted girl babies.

Australia Practitioner Defends Decision to Do Abortion at 32 Weeks
Canberra, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- The man who did a late-term abortion at 32 weeks into a woman's pregnancy on an unborn baby diagnosed with dwarfism is defending his decision. Lachlan de Crespigny has been prevented by the courts from talking about the case until now, and he told Australian media he has no regrets about doing the controversial abortion.

Professor Wants $5,000 Baby Tax for Couples With Two or More Kids
Perth, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- A university professor has written an article in a medical journal suggesting that couples who have more than one baby should pay a $5,000 tax for supposedly hurting the environment. His comments follow on the heels of women in England saying they had abortions to protect the environment.

Canada Pregnancy Center Withdraws From Ottawa Senators Fundraiser
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A Canadian pregnancy center that helps women in difficult pregnancy situations has withdrawn from a fundraiser organized by the wives of the Ottawa Senators hockey team. The move comes after Planned Parenthood officials publicly attacked First Place Pregnancy Centre and falsely accused it of misleading women.

Canada Bill to Protect Pregnant Women, Unborn Children to Receive Vote
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Lawmakers in the Canadian parliament will finally have an opportunity to vote on a bill that holds criminals accountable when they attack a pregnant woman and kill or injure her unborn child. The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs says bill C-484 can receive a vote.

Australia Practitioner Who Botched Abortion Not Guilty of Medicaid Fraud
Sydney, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australia abortion practitioner who was convicted of illegally giving a woman a dangerous abortion drug was found not guilty yesterday of 96 counts of Medicare fraud. Suman Sood failed to conduct a medical examination on a woman she gave a dangerous abortion drug to that resulted in a botched abortion.

British Labour Party MPs Want Free Vote on Upcoming Abortion Bill
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the British Labor Party are requesting that Prime Minister Gordon Brown give them a free vote on the upcoming Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. They don't want to be held to the government's position on its legislation, which promotes in-vitro fertilization and could be used to promote abortion.

British Pro-Life Groups Upset Government Wants Nurses Doing Abortions
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- British pro-life groups are upset that the government there is planning to authorize nurses and other non-doctors to do abortions and to give women the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug. The abortion pill has been responsible for the deaths of two women in England, thirteen worldwide and has injured more than 1,100 women in the U.S.

Ottawa Senators Hockey Wives Support Pregnancy Center, Draw Fire
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The wives of the hockey players for the Ottawa Senators have formed a charitable group called "The Better Halves" and are soliciting donations that will go to a local pregnancy center. One-third of the money they raise will support the First Place Pregnancy Centre, which helps women in the area who are considering an abortion.

Women Having Abortions More Likely to Abuse Drugs, Alcohol Study Shows
Melbourne, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- Women who have abortions are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol compared with those who carry a pregnancy to term, a new Australian study shows. The results of the study are important given that the American Psychological Association is preparing another review of the literature on how abortion adversely affects women.

Chinese Man Sentenced to Death For Burning Girlfriend After Abortion Refusal
Shenyang, China (LifeNews.com) -- A Chinese man has been sentenced to death for burning his girlfriend and causing her severe burns after she refused to have a sex-selection abortion. Such abortions have plagued the Asian nation by creating a skewed gender imbalance that's resulting in a plethora of social problems.

Slovakia Court Rules Against Abortion Ban, Prohibits Late-Term Abortions
Bratislava, Slovakia (LifeNews.com) -- The top court in this eastern European nation of Slovakia ruled on Tuesday against a request to prohibit abortions there. However, the constitutional court upheld the time limit when abortions can be done -- which makes late-term abortions illegal by stopping any done after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

England Experiences Sex-Selection Abortion Problems Among Indian Woman
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A researcher at Oxford University has discovered that the problem of sex-selection abortion isn't confined to Asian nations such as India. Women from India who have moved to the United Kingdom are engaging in the grisly practice there and nearly 1,500 girl babies are "missing" as a result.

Spain Police Find Late-Term Abortion Centers Flushed Babies Down Drain
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- Local authorities investigating four late-term abortion businesses in Barcelona say they discovered machines attached to the drains of the buildings used to flush down the bodies of babies victimized by abortion. The machines were apparently used to crush the bodies and flush them into the city's sewer system.

Uruguay President Vasquez Promises to Veto Bill Legalizing Abortion
Montevideo, Uruguay (LifeNews.com) -- President Tabare Vazquez of Uruguay has reiterated his position against a bill pending in the South American nation's Congress that would legalize abortion there. The country's Senate has already signed off on the measure and the House of Representatives will soon consider it.

Nicaragua Abortion Ban Still Subject of American Media Attack Articles
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The abortion ban in Nicaragua continues to come under attack not just from pro-abortion groups but from the American media. Earlier this month, lawmakers in the Central American nation failed a third time to legalize some abortions there and the Associated Press has written an attack article in response.

Spain Officials Arrest Employees for Potentially Illegal Late-Term Abortions
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- Officials in Spain arrested six abortion facility employees on Monday allegedly because they were involved in doing illegal late-term abortions. Spain has legalized most abortions, but physicians must sign off on those done supposedly because of health concerns to the mother.

Movie on Illegal Abortions in Romania Wins Another Film Festival Award
Stockholm, Sweden (LifeNews.com) -- While the movie Bella captures the hearts of millions of American moviegoers with its respect for life, a movie which offers a look at illegal abortions took home another prize from an international film festival. The Romanian film "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," won top prize at the 18th Stockholm International Film Festival

Vietnam Sees More Abortions Than Live Births in Ho Chi Minh City
Hanoi, Vietnam (LifeNews.com) -- The number of abortions has declined in Ho Chi Minh City, but the large Asian city still sees more abortions there than live births. Vietnam has long had one of the highest abortion rates in both Asia and the world and the United Nations recently said sex-selection abortions are causing significant gender gaps.

Ireland Medical Board Trying to Curtail Abortion Drug Sales To Residents
Dublin, Ireland (LifeNews.com) -- Abortion is illegal in Ireland but some residents there are trying to get around the abortion ban buy purchasing the dangerous abortion drug RU 486. Officials with the Irish Medicines Board say they plan to step up in enforcement to make sure the drug isn't entering the nation illegally.

South Africa Fails to Approve Bill Allowing Nurses, Midwives to Do Abortions
Pretoria, South Africa (LifeNews.com) -- The South Africa House failed to approve a bill that would have allowed nurses and midwives to do abortions there. All bills in the legislature needed approval by Thursday and not enough MPs were present to form a quorum to allow a vote on the measure.

Ireland Forces European Union to Back Down on Pro-Abortion Africa Plan
Brussles, Belgium (LifeNews.com) -- Delegates to the European Union have been successful in forcing it to moderate its support for an African plan that promotes abortion continent-wide. The African Union approved the pro-abortion Maputo Plan of Action, a non-binding resolution, in January and pro-life advocates have opposed it ever since.

Brazil Health Conference Rejects Abortion in Suggestions for Government
Brasilia, Brazil (LifeNews.com) -- Delegates to a national health conference in Brazil have rejected including abortion in a list of health care policy recommendations for the nation's government. Abortion advocates have been working overtime there to legalize abortion despite polls showing a strong majority of citizens there support its pro-life laws.

New Zealand Pro-Life Group Wants Stronger Anglican Church Abortion Stance
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- The leading pro-life organization in New Zealand is calling on the Anglican Church there to take a stronger stance against abortion. Right to Life of New Zealand says is disappointed that the Anglican Bishops declined to make a public statement in defense of unborn children.

Los Angeles Times Reporter Admits Inflating Mexico's Illegal Abortions
Los Angeles (LifeNews.com) -- A Los Angles Times news reporter has admitted that he inflated the number of illegal abortions he reported in a recent news story on Mexico. Hector Tobar reported that 1 million illegal abortions had been occurring there annually before the legislative assembly in Mexico City legalized abortions in the capital city.

Pope Benedict Tells Catholics to Defend Life, Welcome Post-Abortion Women
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Pope Benedict XVI met with bishops from Kenya today and urged Catholic around the world to continue to do everything possible to defend human beings from abortions. He also urged Catholics to welcome women who have had abortions back to the Church so they can rebuild relationships the abortion destroyed.

British Catholic Parishes Must Deny Amnesty International Space Over Abortion
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Catholic bishops in England have written to over 5,000 parish churches telling them that they will no longer be able to host meetings for Amnesty International. That's because the group approved a new policy this summer backing legal abortions worldwide in cases of rape or incest.

Portugal Doctors Refuse Government Mandate to Promote Abortions
Lisbon, Portugal (LifeNews.com) -- Doctors in Portugal are refusing to comply with a governmental mandate that they remove from their national organization's bylaws a provision saying it's wrong to do an abortion. The government of this western European nation legalized abortion in January and has seen numerous physicians decline to do them.

United Nations Defeats Abortion Amendments on Death Penalty Bill
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- The United Nations defeated two pro-life amendments proposed during a debate over a measure calling for an end to the death penalty worldwide. Bush administration officials representing the United States voted in favor of one of the amendments, touting legal protection for unborn children.

Sweden Parliament Approves Effort to Become International Abortion Hotspot
Stockholm, Sweden (LifeNews.com) -- The Swedish Parliament has approved a bill that would make Sweden an international destination for women seeking abortions. Foreign women will now be allowed to have abortions in Sweden in what detractors call "abortion tourism" by offering abortions to women in nations where the practice is illegal.

Nicaragua Legislators Fail Third Attempt to Legalize Some Abortions
Managua, Nicaragua (LifeNews.com) -- Lawmakers in the Nicaragua Congress failed a third attempt to change the nation's law on abortion. The Latin American country currently prohibits all abortions and the legislators have been trying to change that to allow abortions in the very rare instances where the pregnancy directly threatens the life of the mother.

British Officials Investigate Doctor for Urging Women to Rethink Abortion
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life doctor in England is coming under fire for having the temerity to suggest to women considering an abortion that they should rethink their decision in light of the medical and mental health problems they cause. Now British officials who monitor doctors are investigating her practice.

British Lawmakers Form Bipartisan Group to Limit Late-Term Abortions
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the British Conservative and Labour parties are coming together to support an amendment to the new Human Tissues and Embryology Bill to lower the limit on late-term abortions from 24 weeks into pregnancy to 20. Tory MP Nadine Dorries is leading the effort and an unnamed Labour MP will work with her.

Uruguay Pro-Life Advocates Organize to Stop Abortion Bill Going Further
Montevideo, Uruguay (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates in the South American nation of Uruguay are frantically organizing support against a bill that has already been approved the country's Senate. The measure now heads to the House and, should it be approved there, to President Tabare' Vasquez, who has indicated he may veto it.

Actuary Magazine: Abortion-Breast Cancer Link Will Insurance Industry
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British actuary magazine has published an article saying the link between abortion and breast cancer will cause an epidemic there. The Actuary, a professional magazine, says England and Wales will likely see a rise in the number of women afflicted with the deadly disease.

Mexico Pro-Life Advocate Says Official Lied Abortion Deaths During Debate
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life advocate in Mexico says government officials in the nation's capital city lied about the number of deaths of women from illegal abortions when the city approved a bill to legalize abortion this spring. As LifeNews.com recently reported, the law has opened the door for women nationwide to get abortions.

Uruguay Senate Approves Bill Legalizing Abortion, President to Veto
Montevideo, Uruguay (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate in the South American nation of Uruguay has approved a bill to legalize all abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. The legislative chamber tied 15-15 on its last vote, but pro-abortion lawmakers forced a vote on a modified version of it.

President Bush Nominates Pro-Life Law Professor as Vatican Ambassador
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Bush has nominated a prominent pro-life law professor as the new ambassador from the United States to the Vatican. The president's nomination of Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon follows the trend of keeping pro-life advocates in the key diplomatic position.

Catholic Church to Hold Intl Conference on Unborn Baby's Development
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- The Catholic Church is planning an international conference to help policymakers understand the amazing development of the unborn child. Vatican officials say nations are making decisions about abortion and bioethics issues such as human cloning and stem cell research and they need to know how human life begins at conception.

British Lawmakers Had Conflict of Interest With Pro-Abortion Backing, MP Says
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Several British lawmakers who were a part of a recent committee that recommended to parliament that it promote abortion further should have disclosed their pro-abortion ties. That's the view of a leading MP who said it was wrong that pro-life doctors be criticized but pro-abortion elected official be let off the hook.

Russia Govt Urges Practitioners to Tell Women Abortion's Consequences
Moscow, Russia (LifeNews.com) -- The Russian government's health ministry has approved an informed consent agreement that women having abortions are urged to sign. The new agreement is similar to the Right to Know laws pro-life advocates in the United States have approved that require abortion practitioners to tell women of abortion's risks.

Mexico City’s New Legal Abortion Law Opens Door for National Abortions
Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) -- Backers of the new law in Mexico City that legalized abortion up to 13 weeks into pregnancy in April said their measure would not open the door for abortions on women across Mexico. However a new Los Angeles Times report indicates that’s exactly what’s happening there.

British Pro-Life Groups Heap Criticism on Committee's New Abortion Report
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life groups in England have joined two dissenting MPs in condemning the new report issued by the British Parliament's science and technology committee on the issue of abortion. The panel said there should be tightening of the 24-week limit and that only one doctor should sign off on abortions.

Wife of China 's Top Forced Abortion Proponent Denied Medical Care
Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- Chinese authorities continue to keep the wife of a prominent activist against forced abortions under house arrest. Yuan Weijing, the wife of blind attorney Chen Guangcheng, jailed on bogus charges to prevent him from suing local family planning officials, remains under close surveillance from local authorities.

British Parliament Cmte Report Says to Keep Abortions at 24 Weeks
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The British Parliament's science and technology committee has released its report recommending to the full parliament what changes, if any should be made in the nation's 40 year-old abortion law. The committee said the 24 week limit for abortions should not be reduced and endorsed expanding abortions further.

Cuban Abortion Opponent Oscar Biscet to Receive US Presidential Award
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet is more than a physician in his native Cuba. He is an outspoken abortion opponent in a pro-abortion nation that doesn't take kindly to dissent. On Monday, he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- America's highest civil honor -- in recognition of his struggles.

Chile Government Responds to Pope By Pushing Morning After Pill
Santiago, Chile (LifeNews.com) -- The national government of Chile has responded to a request to respect human life by Pope Benedict XVI by pushing the morning after pill harder than before. The Catholic leader met with new President Michelle Bachelet earlier this month, but she has responded by doing the opposite of what he asked.

Pro-Life Rep Asks Bush to More Aggressively Oppose China Forced Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- At a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week, a leading pro-life Congressman asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice if the Bush administration would more aggressively oppose forced abortions in China. Rice confirmed the president would continue to oppose the Asian nation's brutal policy.

Italy's Political Leaders Criticize Pope for Speech on Abortion Drugs
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- Political leaders in Italy are criticizing Pope Benedict XVI for a speech he gave on Monday to a conference of Catholic pharmacists in which he said they should stand up for their right to opt out of dispensing drugs involved in abortions or euthanasia. They say Italian law requires pharmacists to fill orders for all prescriptions.

UN Study: Sex-Selection Abortions Wreaking Havoc on Nepal, Vietnam
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- China and India have displayed the kind of social problems sex-selection abortions and infanticides of girl babies can produce. Both nations have seen an increase in prostitution and sex trafficking and have a bachelor society where crime is rampant. A new United Nations report says Nepal and Vietnam have the same problems.

Statistician Refutes UN-Planned Parenthood Study on Illegal Abortions
New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A joint study published by the World Health Organization and the Alan Guttmacher Institute is coming under additional scrutiny for claiming that abortions are just as frequent in nations where they are prohibited as those that legalize them. A statistician at Texas A&M University says the study is full of gaping holes.

Pope Benedict XVI: Catholic Pharmacists Should Avoid Abortion, Euthanasia
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Pope Benedict XVI had a clear message of Catholic pharmacists on Monday saying they should avoid any involvement in abortion or euthanasia. His words provide support for pro-life groups trying to protect the conscious rights of pharmacists with laws to allow them to opt out of dispensing drugs in such cases.

Canada Pro-Life Group Again Fails to Get Pro-Abortion College's Approval
St. Johns, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The campus pro-life group at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada has again failed to persuade the pro-abortion student government to allow it to be an official campus group. The MUN Students’ Union denied a request for ratification by MUN For Life earlier this month and did it again the other day

British MPs May Vote on Cutting Abortion Limits, Pro-Life Group Worried
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Despite comments a government official who said that she sees no reason to cut the time limit on abortions from 24 weeks, pro-life members of Parliament say they may be able to force a vote. However, one leading pro-life group worries that cutting limits on late-term abortions may pave the way for more abortions in total.

Canada Teen Heads to Jail for Killing Girlfriend Who Refused Abortion
Winnipeg, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A Canadian teenager has been given six years in prison for killing his pregnant girlfriend after she refused his request to have an abortion. The teenager was not charged in the death of the woman's unborn child because Canada does not have a law similar to the U.S. that holds criminals accountable for their deaths.

British Abortion Law Architect Speaks, Helath Minister Comments on Limits
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Speaking at a pro-abortion conference organized by Marie Stopes International, one of the leading abortion businesses in England, the architect of the nation's legal abortion law admitted there are too many abortions there. However, Lord Steel said he wants to see the laws loosened further so more can be done.

Northern Ireland Assembly Tells Health Minister to Scrap Pro-Abortion Rules
Belfast, Northern Ireland (LifeNews.com) -- The Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland has voted to as the Health Minister to scrap the abortion guidelines a leading pro-abortion group sought there to expand the number of abortions done in the region. The guidelines were issued by the Department of Health in January.

Woman Gets Apology From Hospital That Did Abortion Without Consent
Harlow, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British woman who was awarded $55,000 this summer after a British hospital did an abortion on her and killed her unborn child without her consent has received an official apology. Teresa Cooper went to Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow when she worried that antibiotics she took to combat an E.coli infection could have hurt her baby.

UK Catholic Bishops Join Anglican Leader to Condemn Abortion Anniversary
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- <